17S7.' In the forenoon of the 1 ith, Captain Meares- and Mr. Rofs left
1 us. They were fupplied with what flour,, fugar, molafles, brandy,
&c. we could poflibly fpare ; and in order to render them every
afliftance in our power, Captain Portlock fpared Captain Meares
two feamen, to aflift in carrying his vefltel to Sandwich Iflands,
where he propofed going as foon as the weather permitted.
We now were no longer at a lofs to know what the Indians we
faw in the firft bay meant by pointing towards Prince William’s
Sound, and repeating the-word Nootka ; neither did we any longer
wonder at their coaxjng our dogs, and Ipeaking Englifh, as they
are exceedingly articulate in their pronunciation, andone of them
it feems, had been on board the Nootka lèverai weeks. But to re---
turn to our bulinefs on board.
Towards noon on the roth, the weather growing pretty moderate,
we compleated our bottom, and in the afternoon, hove to our
moorings. We were bufied on the 1 ith in flowing the hold, and
getting in wood and water. The armourèrs of both fhips had a
tent on fhore, and were bufily employed in making toes, our anvil
being loft ; we likewife got in about a ton of ftones for ballaft,
fwayed up our top-mafts, and fet up the rigging. The 12th was
taken up in compleating our water, and getting every thing ready
for fea.
Here I fhall leave thee for the prefent. Happy fhall I be to fend
thee a more favourable account of our good fortune in my next,
than I have been hitherto able to do. Thine afluredly,
W. B. Montague I sland,
May 13th.
L E T T E R
L E T T E R XXX.
OU R laft feafon on the coaft being now advancing very faft, a
reparation was agreed on as the moft likely means of promoting
our fuccefs for the remaining part of the year; accordingly,
it was determined to fend Captain Portlock’s long boat, under the
direction of Meflrs. Hayward and Hill, to trade in Cook’s River.
The King George was to ftay in Prince William’s Sound, till the
boat’s return, and our veflel was to fail for King George’s Sound, at
the fame time, keeping well in with the coaft, that no opportunity
of colle&ing Furs might be loft: this diftribution of ourfelves,
thou wilt perhaps fay, was judicious; and indeed it was high time
for us to ftrain every nerve; for what with finding ourfelves anticipated
at this place, and the great probability of being ferved the
fame at King George’s Sound, our beft profpeCts were far from
pleafing.
In the afternoon of the 12th of May, Meflrs. Hayward and Hill
fet out in the long boat for Cook’s River, taking with them a proper
aflortment of articles neceflary for trading with the natives.
Soon after they were gone, two canoes came along-fide us, one -of
them with eight people in her, the other three, but brought nothing;.
however, they promifed to come next day, with plenty o f
trade, accompanied by their Chief.
The morning of the 13 th was fine and dear, but the wind being
light and variable, and there being a poffibility of the Indians returning,